TACTILE-BASED GUIDANCE SYSTEM

• US 20110268300A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: DeMers, Robert E., Plocher, Tom, Huseth, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/309
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A tactile-based guidance system incorporating tactors in headgear, such as a hat, helmet, or hood. Tactors may provide tactile sensations at different places about the head to convey information to a person such as direction, bearing, movement, orientation, and the like, of the person wearing the tactors. The system may also include an optional multi-dimensional sound mechanism which provides indications of direction, bearing, and other information. One or more tactors may be resorted to for resolving any ambiguity in the sound indications.

Claims

1. A guidance system comprising:

a head mount;

one or more tactors attached to the head mount; and

an electronics module connected to the one or more tactors; and

wherein the one or more tactors are positioned in the head mount so as to make physical contact with a person when the head mount is situated on a person'"'"'s head.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics module is attached to the head mount.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics module provides signals to the one or more tactors to indicate a direction to a person wearing the head mount.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the direction is for telling the person where to go or what direction the person is facing; and

the signals to the one or more tactors tell the person whether the person is moving closer to or farther from a destination.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronics module comprises a direction sensor; and

the direction sensor provides signals to the one or more tactors for telling the person a direction that the person is facing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics module reconfigures a pattern of signals provided to the two or more tactors in an event that one or more tactors fail.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a tactor of the one or more tactors provides signals to a person via physical contact of the tactor at a place on a head of the person;

the signals from the tactor provide a physical stimulation at the place on the head; and

the signals have variable amplitudes, frequencies, rhythms, codes, and/or patterns sufficient to identify a target.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more tactors provide to a person wearing the head mount indications of air supply status, ambient temperature, up and down movement, impending danger messages, and/or other items.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the head mount is integrated as part of headgear such as a hat, helmet or hood.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more audio transducers attached to the head mount; and

wherein;

the one or more audio transducers are connected to the electronics module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more transducers provide signals which have variable amplitudes, frequencies, rhythms, codes, and/or patterns sufficient to identify a target.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more audio transducers provide 3D audio;

the 3D audio indicates direction; and

the one or more tactors provide front-back orientation.

13. A method for physical guidance of a person, comprising:

placing one or more tactors in physical contact with the person proximate to the person'"'"'s head; and

providing signals from the one or more tactors in a form of physical stimulation at one or places proximate to the person'"'"'s head; and

wherein the signals provide directional information to the person.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more tactors are placed in a head mount; and

the head mount is for placement on a person'"'"'s head so as to place the one or more tactors in physical contact proximate to the person'"'"'s head.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing coded signals to the tactors so as to provide additional information to the person; and

wherein the additional information comprises air supply status, ambient temperature, movement, orientation of the person, imminent danger, and/or other items.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing multi-dimensional audio to a person; and

wherein;

the multi-dimensional audio provides sound appearing to be from a direction to the person hearing the sound; and

the one or more tactors provide disambiguation signals to resolve ambiguous directions from the multi-directional audio.

17. A tactile guidance system comprising:

a structure;

one or more tactors attached to the structure; and

a signal source connected to the one or more tactors; and

wherein;

the signal source is for providing direction and/or location information about the structure to the one or more tactors; and

the structure is for providing contact between the one or more tactors and a surface on a person'"'"'s head.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a multi-dimensional sound transducer attached to the structure; and

wherein;

the sound transducer is connected to the signal source;

the sound transducer provides a sound indicating a direction; and

the one or more tactors provide a tactile signal to resolve any ambiguity of the direction of the sound.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a location/orientation device situated in the structure using an RF technology from a group consisting of angle-of arrival, time of flight and signal strength; and

wherein;

the device can indicate distance and location relative to a dangerous situation; and

the device is connected to the signal source.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a device for providing direction and orientation information provided by an external source over an RF link; and

wherein the device is connected to the signal source.